NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
33 reportsClear category filter70,000 miles · Feb 9, 2012
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure
SEVERAL TYPES OF GM VEHICLES (APPROX 2000-2008) HAVE SEVERE LEAKING AND DECAY PROBLEMS LIKE MY CHEVY IMPALA SHOWS CURRENTLY. I NOTICED EARLY FEBRUARY 2012 WHEN MY FACTORY SPEAKERS STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. THE RADIO SOUND DIDN'T GET THROUGH, DOOR CHIMES DIDN'T WORK, SAFETY AND WARNING CHIMES DIDN'T MAKE NOISE, ETC. A WAR…
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SEVERAL TYPES OF GM VEHICLES (APPROX 2000-2008) HAVE SEVERE LEAKING AND DECAY PROBLEMS LIKE MY CHEVY IMPALA SHOWS CURRENTLY. I NOTICED EARLY FEBRUARY 2012 WHEN MY FACTORY SPEAKERS STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. THE RADIO SOUND DIDN'T GET THROUGH, DOOR CHIMES DIDN'T WORK, SAFETY AND WARNING CHIMES DIDN'T MAKE NOISE, ETC. A WARNING CHIME DIDN'T SIGNAL FOR ME TO TURN OFF MY LIGHTS ON A RAINY DAY AT A GROCERY STORE SO THAT WHEN I CAME BACK, I WAS STRANDED! THIS HOWEVER ISN'T THE BIG PROBLEM. THIS LEAK UNDER THE COWL SEEMS TO BE PROMINENT IN MANY OTHER VEHICLES AND ALLOWED GALLONS TO ENTER IN UNDER MY RUGS, FLOOR MATS ETC., AND TRAVEL ALL OVER THE PASSENGER CABIN SO THAT WIRES WERE SUBMERGED, CORRODED, MOLD GREW, AND AIRBAG SENSOR HUBS BECAME ISLANDS. YES MY AIRBAG SENSORS AND WIRING ARE SUBMERGED WITH WATER! PLEASE HAVE GM RECALL THIS COMMON PROBLEM TO FIX THIS! MY CAR SMELLS TERRIBLE INSIDE FROM THIS (ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER) AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM WORRIED THAT MY AIRBAGS WILL MALFUNCTION. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10447263
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2012
Air Bags
MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. HAS THERE BEEN ANY TYPE OF RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS THAT I'M JUST NOT FINDING? IF NOT, CAN YOU GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT I SHOULD CHECK TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OFF? I HAVEN'T BEEN IN A WRECK THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LIGHT TO GO OFF & MY AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED.
NHTSA ODI #10444331
159,000 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 159,000.
NHTSA ODI #10342657
166,377 miles · Dec 29, 2009
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 12/22/09 WHERE I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. BECAUSE OF THAT MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND THE SEATBELT DID NOT CATCH TO PREVENT ME FROM HITTING MY HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10297305
89,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Air BagsInjury
ON SATURDAY JULY 18, 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA ON HIGHWAY 10 IN TAWASSEN BRITISH COLUMBIA HEADING EAST BOUND. I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT AND WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD NOT STRUCK ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE, NOR HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN IN ANY PRIOR…
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ON SATURDAY JULY 18, 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA ON HIGHWAY 10 IN TAWASSEN BRITISH COLUMBIA HEADING EAST BOUND. I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT AND WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD NOT STRUCK ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE, NOR HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN IN ANY PRIOR FRONTAL COLLISIONS. NO MECHANICAL REPAIRS HAVE EVER BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE, AND NO PARTS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED ASIDE FROM BASIC MAINTENANCE (BRAKES, ROTORS, OIL CHANGES, ETC.). LUCKILY, ME AND MY PASSENGERS (2) SUSTAINED NO MAJOR INJURIES (ONLY LIGHT MINOR) AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I AM FILING THIS IN AMERICA BECAUSE I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND THE VEHICLE IS REGISTERED TO ME IN THE UNITED STATES. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND WITH THE MANUFACTURER (GM, CHEVROLET). GM/CHEVROLET ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH JURISDICTION BETWEEN GM CANADA AND GM USA, AND HAVE YET TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. I AM WRITING THIS TO HELP ME INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277685
61,000 miles · Oct 17, 2008
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FLASHES, EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,000. UPDATED 12/11/08 *BF THE CONSUM…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FLASHES, EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,000. UPDATED 12/11/08 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. UPDATED 12/11/08
NHTSA ODI #10245826
15,020 miles · Jun 20, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. ON JUNE 8, 2007, AT AN INTERSECTION, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED.…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. ON JUNE 8, 2007, AT AN INTERSECTION, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. THE CRASH INVOLVED THREE VEHICLES. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS AND A POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,020.
NHTSA ODI #10194496
40 miles · Sep 3, 2006
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
WE PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA FROM A DEALER ON MARCH 16, 2006. ON MARCH 21, 2006, WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH. THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF US STOPPED SUDDENLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A LOUD POP. THE BRAKE PEDDLE THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT THE VAN IN FRONT OF ME TWICE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO TU…
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WE PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA FROM A DEALER ON MARCH 16, 2006. ON MARCH 21, 2006, WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH. THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF US STOPPED SUDDENLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A LOUD POP. THE BRAKE PEDDLE THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT THE VAN IN FRONT OF ME TWICE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO TURN DOWN A SIDE STREET AND LET THE CAR COAST TO A STOP. OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTER CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND TOOK PICTURES. THE CAR WAS SENT TO A BODY SHOP TO BE TORN DOWN. GM WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE BODY SHOP WAS TOLD NOT TO TOUCH THE CAR UNTIL GM COULD SEND AN INSPECTOR TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THE INSPECTOR FINALLY CAME OUT AND RETRIEVED THE INFORMATION FROM THE BLACK BOX AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE BRAKE LINKAGE SYSTEM. HE ASKED IF WE HAD FOUND ANY PARTS IN THE FLOOR UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WE TOLD HIM NO. GM THEN TOOK 5 MONTHS TO FINISH THEIR INVESTIGATION. WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ALLOW ANYONE TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THEY WERE DONE. THEY CAME BACK TO US AND TOLD US THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH. WE WERE ALL SET TO GO AFTER THE DEALER WHEN MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE BRAKES HIMSELF. WHEN HE DID, HE FOUND THE "MISSING" PART THE INSPECTOR HAD ASKED ABOUT. THE PART WAS VISIBLY BROKEN. GM HAS LAUGHINGLY OFFERED US $2,000.00 FOR THIS INCIDENT. MY HUSBAND AND I SUSTAINED MORE THAN $2,000.00 IN MEDICAL BILLS. THIS IS A COMPLETE JOKE. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE FAILURE, NEITHER ONE OF OUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH WE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON TWICE. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS BRAKE PART OR AIR BAGS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10167281
38,600 miles · Aug 3, 2006
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. SENSOR IS BEING REPLACED, BUT NOW DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S THE WIRING UNDER THE SEAT. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $550! THIS IS A GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE WARRANTY WITH 39,000 MILES...CAR HAS 40,200 MILES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10164315
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2006
Air BagsCrash
DRIVING MY 2005,CHEVY IMPALA A DEER JUMPED OFF SIDE OF RAILROAD TRACKS DOWN INTO THE FRONT OF CAR. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OVER $4000. BIG IMPACT SKID MARKS FROM TIRES ETC. AIR BAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE. CAR AT GARAGE AND BEING CHECKED OUT? *JB
NHTSA ODI #10161121
Official recalls
1Jul 3, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗